Ambition Mission

Anyone who has looking into professional graphic design services, knows that a logo design including 1-2 rounds of revisions with 2-3 design choices will cost approximately $3,000 or more.  Add to that another $2,000 to $4,000 for similar services related to stationary such as business cards, letterhead, etc… and a small business can easily spend over $5,000 for a proper branding campaign. 

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I am not usually the one who usually finds better value in spending less, but every once in a while, something comes across my desk that changes everything.  I recommend any small business looking for a branding makeover to look at www.99designs.com

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On this site, one can start a “contest” for a new logo, company stationary, web design layout, etc… There is a modest fee to run a contest ($30-$50) and a monetary prize that is offered to the winner - if a winner is ever chosen.  Minimum prize amounts exist, but are low - such as $150 for a logo and $200 for a website design.  Once the contest begins, which last between 1 and 10 days, freelance designers from all over the world (mostly Europe and Asia) submit entries which the contest holder rates and provides feedback upon.  This feedback encourages designers to try again, make changes to have a better chance of winning the contest, etc…

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When all is said and done and the contest is over, there may have been over 50 different unique and professional designs to choose from and an entire branding makeover design could be obtained for under $500!

• More choices
• More direct and immediate feedback with designers
• complete freedom (don’t have to pick a winner if you don’t like any designs)
• Very professional designs

A win win!   

Happy Hunting,  

Matt Makowicz

Hello all SMB focused IT providers.  You likely know of my friend, Erick Simpson and MSP University.  He also has some great books and materials to help the SMB consultant and SMB focused IT providers. 

He is giving his downloadable audio book for FREE to anyone who registers for his upcoming webinar THIS Wednesday!  The webinar itself is a good one as it focuses upon AuthAnvil - a fantastic security product from Scorpian software designed for the SMB IT provider.

 So there it is - a great webinar that can help your business, and a free audio book that will help your business.  You have to register for the webinar and complete a survey to get the audio book, ($59 value) and to qualify for a raffle (done during the webinar) for $875 worth of AuthAnvil products.  Register here today!

 Happy hunting!

Here is the URL for the sign up page, including a link on it to view more details on all of the items included in this package: https://www.49team.com/sbscorder

There is an exclusive code you can obtain if you are an SBSC!!!  

Here’s a chance to get exposure to the 75 million people that watch NASCAR in the USA!  (that’s 1 out of every 4 men, women & children)

Microsoft is partnering with NASCAR to promote the Small Business Specialist Community (SBSC) brand, i.e. the ‘blue badge’ AND simultaneously giving an opportunity to SBSC partners to promote their business!For under $4,000, an SBSC can get it’s company logo/name on NASCAR’s #49 car! More details can be found at http://blogs.msdn.com/mssmallbiz/What an exposure opportunity!!!   Happy Hunting!!! 

In visiting various user groups and IAMCP chapters accross the US, there has been a lot of confusion and subsequent fear about SBS 2008 user limits.

SBS 2008 will continue to allow up to 75 users.

Essentials will allow from 50-300 users.

Apparantly, there was a marketing slide deck circulating out there incorrectly stating that SBS user limit was dropped to 50 and Essentials user limit was 250.

FYI - hope it helps!

 don’t forget to register for SMB Nation to get a great conference in NJ with a Response Point deep dive www.SMBNation.com code: AMBITION

don’t forget to register for SMB Summit in Dallas for a full day on SBS 2008, a full day on Essentials, and two additional days of business trainings. www.SMBSummit.com (register for My and Karl P’s pre day event)

Attention all Microsoft Partners!  Want $$$$ from Microsoft?  Here you go!!!

Microsoft is about to roll out an enormously, broad incentive to all Partners called the Microsoft Big Easy Promotion.

• Valid for all partner levels! (registered, certified, gold)
• money for practically any licensing purchase! (Open Company Wide will get you more $ than normal Open)
• all products! (will get more $ when customer buys different types of products)
• all product versions! (will get more $ selling Advanced vs. Standard Server)

 I think Microsoft was sick and tired of hearing Partners complain that they never get anything from Microsoft and that the incentives are too specific and too complex to understand, and that it doesn’t fit their perticular niche, etc.. blah blah blah… so here it is, no excuses.  Every Microsoft Partner should get money from Microsoft on this one.

The Microsoft Big Easy Promotion will be for purchases made from 2/1/08 through 6/27/08 (end of Microsoft’s fiscal year).  More details can be found at http://www.msreadiness.com/bigeasy along with webcasts Microsoft is conducting to explain this, well BIG subsidy promotion.  Webcasts begin next week on 1/23/08 so visit the site today!

Good luck and happy hunting!

Matt